Stephen Fry sparks angry backlash to pro-Israel alternative Christmas message on Channel 4

Stephen Fry is facing a mass blacklash following a speech in which he condemned antisemitism.

Following his “Alternative Christmas Message” on Channel 4 today, Mr Fry – who is of Jewish heritage – has been accused of spreading propaganda for Israel as they continue their retaliatory bombings of Gaza following the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7. The TV star pointed to a huge rise in antisemitism in the UK following the attack, and claimed it was the “one acceptable form of racism”.

His critics fiercely accused of him of “playing the victim” and ignoring the suffering of Palestinians in the beseiged Gaza. However, others praised the “beautiful” message and its stance against antisemitism.

In his speech, he said: “One truth about myself, that I never thought for one single second would ever be an issue about which I had any cause to worry in this country, was that I’m a Jew.”

He quoted Metropolitan Police statistics, which recorded a 1,350 percent increase in incidents of antisemitism in London. The actor and TV host said: “There is real fear stalking the Jewish neighbourhoods of Britain.

“Jewish people here are becoming fearful of showing themselves. In Britain, in 2023. Can you imagine, Jews afraid to be themselves in the open for fear of reprisal?”

Between October 1 and October 18, the Metropolitan Police recorded 218 antisemitic incidents, up from 15 across the same period last year. The number of Islamophobic incidents has risen to 101, up from 42 last year.

Mr Fry even said he was glad his grandparents were no longer alive, as it meant they wouldn’t see the rise in antisemitism in Britain.

He said: “My Jewish grandparents loved Britain, believing that Jews were more welcome here than in most countries. I am glad they aren’t alive now to read newspaper stories that would have reminded them of the 1930’s Europe they left.

“They believed Britishness meant being fair and decent, but what can be more unfair or indecent than race hatred, whether antisemitism, Islamophobia or any kind?”

He added: “Knowing and loving this country as I do, I don’t believe that most Britons are ok living in a society that judges hatred of Jews to be the one acceptable form of racism. So speak up, stand with us, be proud to be Jewish or Jew-ish – or, if not Jewish at all, proud to have us as much a part of this great nation as any other minority, as any of you.”

But many social media users took issue with his focus on antisemitism in the UK, and instead focussed on the thousands of Palestinians in Gaza.

More than 20,400 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 7 according to Gaza’s health ministry, comprising mostly women and children. The revised death toll from Hamas’s attack on Israel stands at 1,139.

Parodying Mr Fry and placing an image of him next to a wounded Palestinain boy, one said: ““Good afternoon. My name is Stephen Fry, hopefully ‘Sir Stephen’ by next year, and I’m here to tell you about how oppressed I’ve chosen to be.

“Pay no attention to that malingering scruffy urchin in the next frame. He brought it upon himself…*slurp*…”

A second commenter said: “Tens of thousands of Palestinians have died in just the last two months alone and Stephen Fry thinks he’s the victim! What a c***. Thanks for showing your true colours.”

Another said: “Stephen Fry finds out he’s a Jew, immediately jumps into playing the victim.”

Describing the moment he discovered he was Jewish, Mr Fry said in the video: “If you take a swab of my spittle – as I did with one of those genetic services – up comes 52 percent Ashkenazy Jew. More than half, which was a bit of a surprise.”

“Does it matter?” He added. “I mean, I don’t really “identify as Jewish” any more than I “identify as English” or British.”

Earlier this year Mr Fry, along with celebrities such as Sharon Osbourne and Rachel Riley, signed a letter speaking out against a suggested boycott of the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Israel. The CCFP has been accused of a lack of transparency about donations from the Israeli government, which its bosses deny.

But other commenters were far more positive about Mr Fry’s statement against antisemitism.

“Absolutely beautiful alternative Christmas message from Stephen Fry on Channel 4,” said one. “His words on how the UK has always been and must always be a safe place for Jewish people, was so powerful & his comments cautioning against use of slurs targeting anyone made me cry.”

“Amazing to see Stephen Fry join the modern Jewish Pride movement,” another added. “Jews should – and must – be proud of ourselves. Am Yisrael Chai!”